Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School

Our School Philosophy Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School Religion Handbook 2013-2014 161 Years of Quality, Catholic Education We, the faculty of Saints Peter & Paul School community who have been baptized into Christ Jesus believe that we must "teach as Jesus did." We believe that each child is a unique creation of God with varying degrees of potential in human behavior and academic areas. We believe that parents enroll their children at Saints Peter & Paul because we are a child-centered school that teaches values and morals based on the Catholic religion. We believe that our students must not only have a comprehensive understanding of the Catholic faith, but must also have the opportunities to put those beliefs into practice. We believe that the Church and Family share the responsibility for the total education of the child: spiritual, physical, mental, moral, individual and social. We believe that each child is to be prepared for basic life skills to enable them to achieve future personal goals. We believe it is important for children to learn how to function in group situations and that they learn the value of teamwork. We believe this school has the responsibility of creating and maintaining an environment that assists each student in translating the knowledge he has acquired into purposeful Catholic witness and responsible citizenship. We also believe that the students, parents, and faculty are partners in learning. We will do our best to ensure that parents are fully aware of student progress academically and socially to allow them the opportunity to fulfill their role as primary educators. Our Religious Philosophy The primary reason for the existence of Saints Peter & Paul School is the religious education, formation, and development of each child. While the essence of this religious growth is centered on daily classroom instruction, it is our belief that Christian worship, the reception of the Sacraments, personal prayer, planned religious faith experiences, and social action are equally necessary factors in the total program of religious education. As the Catholic Church has increasingly expanded the opportunities for lay involvement, we strive to inspire our students to an understanding of the importance of caring for their fellow man and to utilize their God-given talents and abilities to improve the lot of those less fortunate. Consequently, we begin preparing them for their adult role in the Church by requiring all students to engage in service to the parish or community for which they are to receive no remuneration. These requirements are progressively more demanding by grade level culminating with eighth graders who are required to complete 40 service hours for graduation. 1

RELIGION GOALS for 2013-2014 1. To provide our families with various Catholic apps to increase their awareness of societal influences while giving them resources to evaluate films, music, and television. 2. To seek Character Counts certification as a means of determining the effectiveness of our Steps to Respect program. 3. To promote the Columbian Squires as a way for our upper class boys to learn more about the Knights of Columbus. 4. To implement the Trinity Project to help Sunday liturgies be more meaningful for families. 5. To increase the availability of the school counselor to work with our students. Trinity Pledge The Trinity Pledge is a program designed to emphasize and enhance the relationship between the school, parish, and family. It is constructed to encourage families to attend Sunday Mass weekly, as well as Holy Days of Obligation, as a way to foster lifelong catechesis. As this new endeavor is formally introduced this fall, we will amend this document so as to the pertinent information and details. Why a Religion Handbook? The purpose of this handbook is to inform you of the goals and provide an insight to the curriculum of the Religious Department of the school for the 2013-2014 academic school year. One of the cornerstones of any school s success is to develop rapport between parents and teachers. This happens when parents receive sufficient communication on their child's development to allow them to exercise their role as primary educator. It is our responsibility to form a partnership and with you, the parents, in order to build a curriculum that allows for the utmost success for our students. It is our responsibility to make you aware of the curriculum in order to best educate your children by reinforcing the academic goals and objectives that are introduced in school at home as well. It is our hope that students not only receive a religious education and learn about their Catholic faith, but that they also live and practice that education in everyday life, both in and out of school. Textbooks and Focal Objectives While students are taught greatly through class discussion, life experiences, and supplemental materials, each grade level has a texted that is utilized on a daily basis. Religion texts used in all grades is the Faith and Life Series by Ignatius Press. The series has been praised for its presentation of the fullness of Catholic faith and tradition as well as for the superb art that enhances each book. Here is a brief synopsis of what children will be learning at each grade level: 2

Gr. 1 Our Heavenly Father Goal: To introduce first-grade students to the Church's faith regarding the Triune God, the life of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the life of prayer, with a special emphasis on growing to know, love, and trust God. Gr. 2 Jesus our Life Goal: To prepare second-grade students for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion, and to help them appreciate God s love for them shown in these two sacraments. Students will learn how to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the order of the Mass, and the basics of prayer. Gr. 3 Our Life with Jesus Goal: To show third-grade students that they belong to God's chosen people and that the child's family is important part of God s family, the Church. Also, to encourage prayer and love for God s law. Gr. 4 Jesus Our Guide Goal: To help fourth-grade students understand their purpose and goal in life, and to see God s plan in history and society to lead us all to Heaven, our true, eternal home. Gr. 5 Credo: I Believe Goal: To help fifth-grade students acquire a solid knowledge of God and his Church through the understanding of the Creed we profess, and the distinguished truths of our faith from errors that lead away from the love of God. Gr. 6 Following Christ Goal: To help sixth-grade students learn to love the moral law as Christ did and to cherish and love the Mass as our best prayer to God, and especially to revere and adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Gr. 7 The Life of Grace Goal: To help seventh-grade students treasure the sacraments as indispensable to a full Christian life of love and truth. To understand how grace works and its relation to practicing the virtues, and to appreciate our gifts of reason and faith. Gr. 8 Our Life in the Church Goal: To help eighth-grade students know and love the Church as Christ's Body, and respond to the teaching of the Magisterium as the sure voice of Jesus, so that young people may be strengthened through their lives in the Church to face the confusion and secularism of modern-day society 3

All-School Liturgical Celebrations and Worship Opportunities It is our goal, as the Catholic School of Saints Peter & Paul Parish, that we shall coordinate our Religion Curriculum and Liturgical Celebrations with the Mission Statement of our Parish Community. "The members of Saints Peter and Paul parish are part of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world. We are a community of believers united in the Christian faith with Peter's successor, the Bishop of Rome, and all those in communion with him including our bishop, the Bishop of Joliet. As such, the mission of our parish, like the mission of every Catholic parish, is to help people grow in holiness by living lives that reflect the love of the Most Holy Trinity. We do this by studying and proclaiming the Word of God, and by celebrating the Sacraments of the Church, including, preeminently, the Eucharist in which Christ feeds the faithful with His very Body and Blood. By following the call of the Holy Spirit, by imitating Jesus Christ and seeking to do the Father's will, we share the truth of the Gospel with others by our testimony and example. Through acts of charity and social justice we seek to build a culture of life in the world today as we long for the Kingdom of God in the world to come." Here is a listing of our prayer services, Mass schedule, and sacramental meetings for the coming year. Prayer Services Wednesday September 11 Reconciliation Gr. 7 & 8 12:45 Church Friday September 20 Scapular Gr. 2 1:00 Church Investiture Wednesday September 25 Reconciliation Gr. 5 & 6 12:45 Church Tuesday October 8 Reconciliation Gr. 3 & 4 12:45 Church Monday Dec. 2, &16 Advent Prayer K-8 8:00 School Service Friday March 7, 14, 21, Stations of the Cross K-8 1:20 Church 28, April 11 Tuesday April 8 Reconciliation Gr. 7 & 8 12:45 Church Wednesday April 9 Reconciliation Gr. 5 & 6 12:45 Church Wednesday April 10 Reconciliation Gr3 & 4 12:45 Church Wednesday April 16 Triduum Gr. K-3 10:45 Holy Family Chapel Gr. 4-8 1:00 Wednesday April 16 Living Stations Kindergarten TBA TBA Friday May 9 May12 May 16 Renewal of Baptism Vows May Crowning May Crowning Gr. 1 All School Kindergarten 1:00 12:45 11:00 Church Church Church 4

AUGUST Mass Schedule Thursday August 29 All School SEPTEMBER Tuesday September 3 K-3 Thursday September 5 Gr. 4-8 Tuesday September 10 K-3 Thursday September 12 Gr. 4-8 Tuesday September 17 K-3 Thursday September 19 Gr. 4-8 Friday September 27 All School OCTOBER Friday October 4 All School St. Francis of Assisi Monday October 7 All School Our Lady of Rosary Friday October 18 All School St. Luke - Evangelist Tuesday October 22 All School Blessed John Paul II NOVEMBER Friday November 1 All School 10:30 a.m. All Saints Day Tuesday November 5 All School Tuesday November 12 K-3 Thursday November 14 Gr. 4-8 Monday November 18 All School Basilica of Peter & Paul Wednesday November 27 All School Grandparents Day 10:00 a.m. DECEMBER Tuesday December 3 K-3 Thursday December 5 Gr. 4-8 Monday December 9 All School Immaculate Conception Friday December 20 All School 5

JANUARY Tuesday January 7 K-3 Thursday January 9 Gr. 4-8 Tuesday January 14 K-3 Thursday January 16 Gr. 4-8 Wednesday January 22 All School Mass for Life Tuesday January 28 All School St. Thomas Aquinas FEBRUARY Monday February 3 All School St. Blaise Tuesday February 11 K-3 Thursday February 13 Gr. 4-8 Tuesday February 18 K-3 Thursday February 20 Gr. 4-8 Tuesday February 25 K-3 Thursday February 27 Gr. 4-8 MARCH Wednesday March 5 All School 10:30 a.m. Ash Wednesday Tuesday March 11 K-3 Thursday March 13 Gr. 4-8 Wednesday March 19 All School St. Joseph Tuesday March 25 All School Annunciation APRIL Tuesday April 8 K-3 Thursday April 10 Gr. 4-8 Tuesday April 15 All School Thursday April 24 All School 6

MAY Thursday May 1 All School St. Joseph the Worker Thursday May 8 All School 8;00 a.m. First Communicants Wednesday May 14 All School St. Matthias the Apostle Tuesday May 20 K-3 Thursday May 22 Gr. 4-8 Tuesday May 27 K-3 Thursday May 29 Gr. 4-8 Friday May 30 All School Last Day of School 7

Sacramental Meetings First Reconciliation Monday September 30, or Grade 2 Friday October 4 First Reconciliation Friday November 15, or Grade 1 Saturday November 16 9:00 a.m. First Reconciliation Tuesday November 12 Church for Grade 2 First Communion Friday January 24, or Grade 2 Saturday January 25 9:00 a.m. First Communion Saturday March 22, or 9:00 a.m. Grade 1 Monday March 24 First Communion Saturday May 3 2:00 p.m. Church for Grade 2 Confirmation Thursday September 19, or for Grade 8 Saturday September 21 9:00 a.m. Saturday February 1, or 9:00 a.m. Monday February 3 Confirmation Saturday October 19, or 9:00 a.m. for Grade 7 Thursday October 24 Social Hall Saturday February 8, or 9:00 a.m. Thursday February 13 Confirmation To be determined 8

Protecting God s Children Our parish will offer the program on Monday, August 26. You may, however, take this program at any parish in the Joliet Diocese. Additional dates are ongoing throughout the Diocese and can be accessed from our parish web site. School Board policy requires all families to go through this program within two years of their children s enrollment. Faith Experience Days All students in grades Kindergarten through 8 th grade partake in a religious field trip. The purpose of these field trips to experience and live the Catholic faith outside of the classroom. This serves as an extension of the religion curriculum. Kindergarten Grade 1 Tour of Saints Peter & Paul Church; Living Stations of the Cross; a May Crowning prayer service Para-liturgy in church to celebrate baptismal vows; Visit church sanctuary per parish pastor Grade 2 Grade 3 Scapular Investiture; Tour of the sanctuary, windows, sacristy, and confessional Special liturgy with their second grade prayer partners Students at Feed My Starving Children Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Tour of the Saints Peter & Paul Church and explanation of the church windows Tour of our Diocesan Cathedral in Joliet (tentative) Presentation by a Byzantine Catholic priest and/or a visit to the Naperville Synagogue Tour of St. Procopius Abbey; Feed My Starving Children Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at the Mexican Cultural Center; May Crowning 9

Extended Faith Experiences Religious faith experiences are embedded into the curriculum on a daily basis throughout the school year. The students are given the opportunity to explore and live their Catholic faith in a variety of ways. Morning Prayer Each day our principal gathers our school community in Morning Prayer over the intercom. It is here that students are reminded to go forth with each new day living and growing in our Catholic roots. Daily Prayer In addition to morning prayer, a culture of reflection and prayer is promoted through every class. Each instructor is encouraged to use a variety of prayer methods including but not limited to vocal, reflective, petitions, and formal prayers. Students pray grace right before lunch with their peers in the cafeteria. Finally each of our homeroom teachers leads their students in a closing prayer, The Act of Contrition, before dismissal every day. Advent and Lenten Prayer Services During the Advent and Lenten seasons, our students are lead in a prayer service by one of our parish priests, deacons, or a staff member. Our students come together in order to reflect and gain a knowledge of the importance of these seasons. Separate prayer services are held in the morning for grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 in each respective building. Reconciliation Prayer Services As part of our Faith, the sacrament of Reconciliation is an important part of the curriculum. Students in grades 3-8 have the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation with their peers at school twice a year, one time each semester. Grade Level Masses Each homeroom is given the opportunity to take an active part in an all school or grade level Masses during the year. This year we will be celebrating major feast days of the church. Parents are welcome and encouraged to join the student body in celebration of Mass. Students in grades K-3 attend mass regularly on Tuesday mornings at Students in grades 4-8 attend mass regularly on Thursday mornings at The entire student body worships together on holy days of obligation and other special occasions throughout the course of the school year. 10

Study of Our Patron Saints Our students not only become familiar with the patron saints of our church and school, Saints Peter and Paul, but they also are familiarized with various other patron saints. Each classroom as a patron saint who serves as a model of Christian living and the way in which are students are taught to live. St. John Baptist de la Salle Patron Saint of Teachers Classroom Patron Saints Classroom Patron Saint Feast Day K1 St. Anthony of Padua June 13 K2 St. Monica March 19 K3 St. Maria Soledad October 11 Room 11 St. Vincent de Paul September 27 Room 12 St. Nicholas December 6 Room 21 St. Frances Cabrini November 13 Room 22 Our Lady of Lourdes February 11 Room 31 St. Martin de Porres November 3 Room 32 Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha July 14 Room 41 St. Peter June 29 Room 42 St. Paul June 29 Room 51 St. Patrick March 17 Room 52 St. John Baptist de la Salle April 30 Room 61 St. Elizabeth Seton January 4 Room 62 St. Francis of Assisi October 4 Room 71 St. Therese of Lisieux October 1 Room 72 St. John Neumann January 5 Room 81 St. Lucy December 13 Room 82 St. Maximillian Kolbe August 14 Spanish St. Ignatius Loyola July 31 Music St. Cecilia November 22 Art St. Luke the Evangelist; St. Catherine of Bologna October 18; March 9 Gym St. John Bosco January 31 Elementary Library St. Jerome September 30 Junior High Library St. Jerome September 30 Technology St. Isidore of Seville April 4 11

Liturgical Music Matthew Sprinkle, director of Sacred Music at our parish, directs both an elementary and jr. high choir with students who sing at all school liturgies. This is integrated with other areas of learning helping them become musically independent and providing the child a unique formative experience in sung prayer and a unique opportunity for a better and complete education in the arts and liturgy. Additional Parish Service Opportunities Beginning in fourth grade, boys and girls of the parish have the opportunity to assist at the Altar of the Lord by becoming a member of the Altar Server Ministry. This requires great dedication and affords the students the opportunity to assume a very important role of the Mass. Students may also be asked to serve parish funerals. Christian Witness Record An integral part of the curriculum provided at Saints Peter & Paul School is the Christian Witness given in the service of others. In pursuit of that goal, students are given guideline to be set in each grade level. Once approving the service indicated on the students individual witness card, a signature is added which indicates fulfillment of the service requirement for the respective grade level. The service opportunities are tracked on the card which is kept on file in each student s permanent folder. Service means: unpaid, voluntary, without extrinsic reward (no money, toys, video games, etc.) act of work which is not part of a student s required chores. The service must also meet a true need in the community, home, or school. Its purpose is to continue the life of Christ who lived a life of service as a living witness to the world. The guidelines for each grade level are as follows: Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Collect socks and toiletries for Hesed House Collect coins after completing counting money to donate to Feed My Starving Children Spring collection of baby food for Loaves and Fishes Provide a food basket each month for the Food Pantry Perform 10 hours of service Perform 10 hours of parish service a year Perform 15 hours of service; Loaves and Fishes Food Collection 12

Grade 7 Grade 8 Perform 20 hours of service; Feed My Starving Children; Loaves and Fishes Food Collection Perform 25 hours of service; Advent/Christmas Service Project; Loaves and Fishes Food Collection Each grade level will participate in projects as an entire class as well as individual homerooms. These activities will be decided by their respective religion teacher. All students are encouraged to continue living a life of service above and beyond the minimum requirements of school. Students who show a true understanding of service and exceed the minimum requirements may be honored at the completion of their eighth grade year. Sacramental Program Saints Peter & Paul Catholic School is a K-8 school; we our afforded the opportunity to see all of our students grow and mature as an individual physically, mentally, and spiritually. As we all grow spiritually in our Faith formation throughout the years of our life, we encounter many religious milestones on the journey. Here, at Saints Peter & Paul, the students may embark on their sacramental journey as part of their Catholic education. Reconciliation and Eucharist Second grade is an important year for our students as they prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. In November, the students may receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our hope is that our students and families continue to receive sacrament throughout the rest of their lives at Saints Peter & Paul. For grades 3-8 they will receive the opportunity to regularly receive the sacrament twice a year with their peers at school. In May, the second grade students will also have the opportunity to receive their First Eucharist with their classmates. On the Thursday following their First Eucharist, the entire student body celebrates with them at an all school liturgy. In preparation for these sacraments, there are required meetings for both our second, and first, grade the parents. This helps parents assist their child as he/she anticipates the reception of the respective sacraments. These dates are listed in this Handbook. Confirmation You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witness. -Acts 1:8 The Confirmation program at Saints Peter & Paul begins in the seventh grade religion class and continues through the reception of the sacrament in the spring of eighth grade. As eighth graders at Saints Peter & Paul, students will continue their education on Church Doctrine, Dogma, and Tradition. The students will be required to submit various forms for the Diocese of Joliet 13

including choice of an adult sponsor, their Confirmation name and why, and a letter to Bishop Conlon explaining why they wish to be Confirmed. All candidates are required to attend a mandatory Confirmation retreat, be in involved in the Harvest Sunday Drive, and successfully pass a Confirmation test in class as well as an interview with either a parish priest or deacon. As this is a two-year program, there are mandatory meetings for both seventh and eighth grade parents which are also listed in this Handbook. Supplemental Texts and Programs Bibles New American Bibles will be provided for all students for prayer and study. Bibles may be kept in the room or may be brought to class by each student as determined by each religion teacher. Primary classrooms have children s bibles appropriate for their age and maturation. Sixth graders must purchase their own Bible that they then use throughout Jr. High. Catechism The Catechism of the Catholic Church should be available in every classroom. In junior high the YOUCAT (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church) is also available. Protecting God s Children Program This is a Diocese of Joliet mandated program requires all teachers, support staff, and volunteers to be fingerprinted, background checked, take the Protecting God s Children in-service, and to take monthly updates via the Virtus website. Volunteers, such as coaches and chaperones, who have direct contact with children and youth, are required to participate in a 3 hour training session and also undergo a criminal background check. Volunteers must be re-screened with a background check every five years. Safe Environment Program The mandatory student component of the Protecting God s Children program is also referred to as Talking About Touching. As modified by the Diocese of Joliet, it is the normative safe environment program for children enrolled in a Catholic school/reo program in grades K-8. Diocese of Joliet modifications eliminate the need for teachers to refer to private body parts by anatomically proper names. That instruction is reserved to parents. Our teaching staff has been serviced on this program. Its primary goals are to teach children: 1. How to recognize unsafe touches 2. How to respond appropriately by saying no 3. How to tell a safe adult about what has happened Age appropriate materials used in this one day program will be available for review during Parent- Teacher Conferences and taught in the late fall. In accordance with diocesan policy, parents have the right for their children not to participate. 14

Family Life You are a family! Your child is a gift from God and a great responsibility. During these important growing up years, you are he most important influence in your child s life. We share the conviction that the best catechesis in sexuality comes first from a loving family at home. The Family Life program for grades K-8 will start in February and covers the themes of God s Gift of Family, God s Gift of Self, God s Gift of Life, God s Gift of Love, and God s Gift of Community. As grade 5 and 6 deal with the changing body and reproduction, we provide parents with a pamphlet entitled Human Reproduction to assist them as they introduce this topic with their adolescent or pre-teen. we will also schedule a special evening program with a speaker brought in to address the students and their parents. Steps to Respect Program The program we use to address issues that could lead to bullying is Steps to Respect. It is an eight step program for grades K-8 to educate students on the skills of: conflict resolution, problem solving, making positive peer choices, anger management, and self-respect. It is taught twice a month on Mass days during Religion class. Rationale for Grading Religion The students religion grade is based on their concrete evidence of mastery of Catholic Doctrine, Dogma, and principles presented in each grade level program. The information is gathered by use of assessments such as tests, quizzes, homework assignments, written projects, and the ability to orally recite grade level appropriate prayers. ACRE testing ACRE, the Assessment of Cathechesis Religious Education, is a test given annually to students in grades 5 & 8. Developed by the National Catholic Education Association, it has a twofold purpose. First is to provide each school with data as to how much their students are learning about topics such as the Catholic Church, scripture, sacraments, church history, prayer, Catholic social teaching, and morality The second part reveals where students at this age are in terms of their beliefs, attitudes, practices, and perception of their Catholic faith. 15

The Teacher as Catechist The perfect model of a Catholic teacher is Jesus Christ. The quality of Jesus teaching is proven by the influence He had on the lives of the people He taught, especially the lives of his disciples. Jesus taught them by actions and words supported with the teachings of Scripture. All persons are called to be Catechists through their Baptism into the Catholic Church. As Catholic school educators we are all expected to model the teachings of Christ regardless of the subject being taught. Therefore, all teachers in their Mr. Joe Fedinec, Religion Department Chairman individual classes are Catechists. To spread the good news of Jesus Christ at Saints Peter & Paul in our classes all teachers are certified Catechists through the Diocese of Joliet. Prayers to be learned: Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Sign of the Cross; Prayers Before and After Meals; Guardian Angel Prayer; Hail Mary; Our Father Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory Be; Act of Contrition Morning Offering; Act of Contrition; Guardian Angel Prayer Apostle s Creed Acts of Faith, Hope, and Live; The Confiteor The Angelus, Prayer of St. Francis; The Beatitudes Come, Holy Spirit Psalms selected from textbook; The Rosary - Joyful Hail, Holy Queen; Memorare; The Rosary Sorrowful Mysteries Nicene Creed; Magnificat; The Rosary Glorious Mysteries Prayers are reviewed in all grades after mastery at grade level. Mastery is to be determined by oral and/or written tests. 16